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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Affable Iraqi commander aids N.C. Guard |
| 2004-05-08 |
| from NewsObserver.com - EFL & Fair Use Friday, May 7, 2004 By CHARLES CRAIN MUNTHERIA, Iraq -- With photographs of himself with L. Paul Bremer and numerous other American officials peering down from the walls, Gen. Nazeem Shereef Mohammad cheerfully reached into a drawer and laid on his desk a fist-sized chunk of hashish. The contraband was evidence, he said, of the successful collaboration between the N.C. National Guard and the Iraqi Border Police. Nazeem -- who like many Iraqis is known mostly by his first name -- is the patrol’s commander in the Diyala district, overseeing about 1,400 men and 150 rugged miles of Iraq’s border with Iran. When Capt. Sean Moser arrived from North Carolina with the 30th Heavy Separate Brigade, he assumed responsibilities ranging from combat operations to cooperation with Iraqi security agencies. That means developing relationships with locals. Moser found an eager ally in Nazeem. "He runs a pretty tight ship up here, especially in comparison to some of the other organizations," Moser said. In March, concern rose over weapons trafficking and the infiltration of foreign fighters. The Coalition Provisional Authority, which Bremer heads, closed 16 border crossings with Iran. Three remained open, including Muntheria, which is administered by Iraqis and run by Nazeem. "Mr. Bremer has made the security of the border a top priority," Moser said. "Muntheria border crossing is the example of how we want the border to run." ...more... And in the next sentence we find out why Nazeem is affable, competent, and a bona-fide ally: he’s a Kurd. Not all Kurds are wonderful, but... |
| Posted by:.com |
| #7 Very good point Steve. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-05-08 10:08:45 PM |
| #6 Kurdistan isn't quite so land-locked if the Syrian Kurds decide to revolt and join the Motherland. Puts the Med a whole lot closer. Wonder what the Kurdish population of Latakia is? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-05-08 4:56:39 PM |
| #5 so, obviously Kirkuk's there heh heh. No doubt someone will portray that as Oil-For-America, and I say, yeah, so F'n what, dipshit? Drive to work or gradschool in lib arts today? STFU! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-08 3:18:15 PM |
| #4 Mr. Davis: Unfortunately, any conceivable Kurdistan is land locked and an enemy with every neighboring state. Well, not necessarily. As the occupying power, the US gets to decide the borders. Any American force based in Kurdistan would be responsible for its territorial integrity. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2004-05-08 2:57:22 PM |
| #3 MrD - At long as Syria is Cannon Fodder Central you're right. Should that change, so changes the fortunes of a possible future Kurdistan. We will see what happens after the Mad Mullahs are tipped - and that should be by the end of the 2nd Qtr 2005, if the intel on their nuke / missile pkg holds true. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-05-08 11:11:10 AM |
| #2 Unfortunately, any conceivable Kurdistan is land locked and an enemy with every neighboring state. That makes it an expensive proposition for heavy armour. |
| Posted by: Mr. Davis 2004-05-08 10:52:13 AM |
| #1 The more I read, the more inclined I am to back the establishment of Kurdistan with longterm basing rights as part of the deal. Move the heavy armor out of Germany into Kurdistan and let the Arabs, the Turks, and the Iranians go exchange spittle. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-05-08 10:30:40 AM |